RBI champion Jackie Robinson Mets get 'big league' experience

Often times the best experiences in life are those that come without a price tag.

After reining supreme at the RBI Senior World Series, the Jersey City Jackie Robinson Mets spent late afternoon and evening Thursday at Citi field where they toured the Mets facility, observed batting practice, and chatted it up with Met's All-Star Curtis Granderson.

Prior to first pitch, the senior Mets were acknowledged for winning the RBI World Series just behind home plate and were shown on 51-by-70-foot big screen.

"It's an amazing experience," Hayward said. "I think for the kids it was very special. Seeing their faces again and again was the best part."

This year marked the Mets' second RBI World Series title in three years. Only one player from the 2012 championship team was here for this special occasion, Montclair pitcher Josh Felix.

Felix pitched in both the 2012 and 2014 RBI championship games.

"It's been a blessing," Felix said, who pitched for Elizabeth High School before heading to college. "Some day I want to be here and the fact that I got to experience it now makes me want to experience it again in the future."

With his visit today, Felix has now visited three major league stadiums (Target Field-Globe Life Park-Citi Field) and pitched in two (Target Field-Globe Life Park).

"It's just a great feeling," said Matt Littrell, former Marist pitcher and Monmouth commit. "Meeting Mets players and getting autographs. I love it."

Littrell is considering one day coaching the Mets RBI team so that he can give players the same experience that he enjoyed today.

Before Granderson hit the field for batting practice, he spent time talking with the young players.

"No matter what age you are, whether you're a fan, a spectator or getting a chance to play it, everybody has a chance to be a part of this game," he told them.

His main piece of baseball advice to the Senior Mets was to simply have fun.

"As long as you have the ability and you want to go out there and work hard, as you start to work hard and you get the results, it ends up being more fun. That's the big thing about the game of baseball."

The RBI moniker doesn't come from the baseball statistic, but rather it stands for "Reviving Baseball in Inner-cities." With a steady decline of MLB players coming from America's inner-city communities, today 15 kids from Jersey City gained an experience that most baseball fans never will.

"I think it motivates them, especially where a lot of the kids are from," Heyward said. "When you have the opportunity to see positive things, you see the big picture and I think RBI does a great job with that. It gives them the broader vision to succeed and enjoy the good parts of life."